Sooo....
I'm committing to this: rough drafting a new novel in ninety days. Why? Because life is short, and I spent three years on the last one, most of which ended getting dumped in following drafts. I'm attempting to save myself the heartache this time, and just git 'er done.

The Project

• WORKING TITLE: The Confluence
• WORD COUNT: No more than 95,000 words in final draft
• GENRE: Cozy Romantasy/Mystery smashup

Word Count & Lies I Tell Myself

Already I am way off here. I wasn't supposed to start until June. My PLAN was to bullet-point plan each of the 21 chapters before June 1. Because this is romantasy and mystery—two genres I have never considered fully before—I want to be sure all the beats are mapped out. At this point in the project, I know my characters, know my setting, and know the answer to the mystery. What's next is how I decide to tell it.

I've got 21 chapter files laid out in Scrivener, each with a one-sentence summary. Each chapter also has a romance and mystery rating so I know how far to turn the dial on each of those plotlines. I HAD planned on bullet-pointing out each chapter before June 1, but...

I can't. I just can't. I'm too excited to write!

So I jumped in to Chapter One, and within 400 words met a great character who convinced me I cannot outline this book. Characters will do as they do! So I've got four chapters bullet-pointed out enough to know what's next, and the general trajectory of the whole thing. And I am ready to roll!

Mental Health Check-In

This is THE MOST FUN PART! I just love opening doors into a whole new world with new people. Really, a writer's life is to be Lucy in the Wardrobe every single day.

Also, I am on pins and needles to find out the status of The Cuttlefish, so maybe I'm just hiding in yet another fiction. 

Creativity Scale

Today: 10/10. We'll see how it gets in the actual trenches starting on June 1.

Plot Holes & Panic Attacks

Well, none so far, as I'm just getting started. Everything is shiny and new. Watch this space.

Join Me?

Hey, I don't want to do this alone! Anyone else up for a 90 day rough draft challenge with me? Drop a note in the comments below.